Apparatus and method for manufacture of pompon



N 1966 A .1. clRou 3,287,785

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE OF PPPP ON NVENTOR.

ANTHONY J. CIROLI yMmW ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,237,785 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 3,287,785 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE OF POMPON Anthony J. Ciroli, Medford, Mass., assignor to Yankee Homecraft Corp., East Natick, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 394,706 11 Claims. (Cl. 28-2) This invention relates to the art of forming pompons with yarn.

More particularly this invention relates to apparatus and method for forming pompous from yarn.

An object of this invention is to facilitate the manufacture of pompons.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive tool for manufacturing pompons by hand.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a tool for forming pompons constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tool illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are views schematic-ally showing how the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 is used to make a pompon from yarn according to the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 specifically, there is illustrated a pompon maker in the form of a tool which preferably is constructed of plastic but may be made of other suitable materials as, for example, aluminum. The tool consists of a body portion identified generally at 2 and a handle portion identified generally at 4. The body portion 2 has a curved upper surface 6 which is provided with a V-shaped groove 8 (FIG. 2). Preferably the upper surface 6 has a circular curvature. The bottom surface 10 of the body portion is provided with a recess 12 which is located approximately equidistant between the ends of the upper surface. The tool also is provided with a series of grooves 14 in its opposite side surfaces 16 and 18. Alternate ones of the grooves 14 emanate from a substantially common point in the recess 12. The other grooves 14 are of shorter length and are located adjacent upper surface 6. The effect of the grooves 14 intersecting upper surface 6 is to provide the opposite top edges with a scolloped effect as seen in FIG. 2. The end of the body portion 2 opposite the handle portion 4 is provided with an extension 20 having a notch 22 as shown in FIG. 2. Notch 22 is at the end of and provides a lead-in to the V-sh-aped groove 8.

The handle portion 4 is provided with a notch. 26 which is oriented at an angle of 90 to notch 22. Both notches are at substantially the same level in line with recess 12. Preferably, but not necessarily, handle portion 4 is provided with an indentation 28 on each side thereof to permit grasping by the fingers of the user as shown in FIG. 3.

The method of using the novel tool of FIGS. 1 and 2 forms part of the invention and will be readily understood by the following description which is to be considered in connection with FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

In using the novel tool the first step is to provide a length of yarn of suitable length, e.g., 40 inches. The length of yarn will vary in accordance with the size of the pompon desired to be made. The tool is held in one hand, e.g., the left hand as shown in FIG. 3. Then one end of the yarn is placed in notch 22 so as to leave approximately one-two inches of yarn extending below the notch. With the one end of the yarn secured in notch 22, the yarn is extended across the front face of the body portion of the tool and hooked around the handle by way of notch 26. The yarn then is extended behind and under the body into the recess 12. Thereafter it is brought up and around the body portion in the grooves 14 nearest the handle portion. Successive turns are made with the yarn along the curved surface 6', with the turns spaced according to grooves 14. The latter not only facilitate even spacing of the turns but also prevent them from slipping. Winding of the yarn is continued back and forth so as to provide several overlays. The length of yarn is wound around the tool until no further turns can be made. Thereafter, the yarn is cut at a suitable point behind the handle short of curved surface 6, as demonstrated in FIG. 4. This act of cutting makes that portion of the yarn which extends across the front face of the tool a separate piece without disturbing its position within the turns of yarn. The ends of this separate piece, the end originally secured in notch 22 and the end secured in notch 26, are then brought together and knotted as demonstrated by FIG. 5. Thereafter, the turns of yarn are cut with a scissors along the groove or channel 8 so as to free the yarn from the tool. Once this has been accomplished, the pompon is essentially complete, except that uneven ends are snipped off and a wide-tooth comb is used to fluff out the pompon for a uniform texture. The pompon after combing out may be used for a variety of purposes as, for example, to make small ornamental articles or dolls or accessories for clothing. The knotted ends shown at 30 in FIG. 5 facili tate attaching the pompon to a supporting structure such as a wire frame.

It is recognized that the groove 8 in the upper curvededge surface of the body portion of the tool need not be V-shaped but in fact U-shaped or have a semicircular configuration in cross-section. The essential thing is that the groove be deep enough to permit entry of the point of a pair of scissors so as to facilitate cutting with the scissors. Alternatively, the turns of the yarn may be cut with a razor blade, in which case the depth of the groove 8 need not be as deep as is required for scissors. It is appreciated also that the length and cross-section of the grooves on the side faces of the body portion of the tool may be different from as shown. The essential thing is that the grooves cooperate with the curved top surface to form serrated top-edge surfaces which will prevent the yarn from slipping so as to get the fan-shaped arrangement shown in the drawings. It is believed obvious that the size of the tool can be varied so as to make larger or smaller pompons. Similarly the handle portion need not have the form shown in the drawings and may in fact be formed as a projection from the bottom edge of the body portion. Changes also may be made with regard to notches 22 and 26 without departing from the invention. Thus notch 26 may be formed at a different angle or even on the body portion.

In the course of using the tool shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is possible to employ multi-colored yarn or even several short sections of yarn of different colors. In the latter case only the first colored strand is anchored in notches 22 and 26. The second, third, and addition-a1 strands of different colors are simply wound around the body portion. When the first wound length of yarn is severed and tied in the manner demonstrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, all of the turns of the several strands of yarn wound on the body portion of the tool will be tied together.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the 3 invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts, or the specific steps, described or illustrated, and that within the scope of the appended claims it may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated.

I claim:

1. Method of making a pompon comprising the steps of providing a length of yarn, temporarily securing one end of said yarn to an elongated supporting member, extending said yarn so that a portion thereof adjacent said one end extends lengthwise along said supporting member, winding the remainder of said yarn about said supporting member and said lengthwise-extending portion, severing said lengthwise-extending portion from the remainder of said yarn, tying together the ends of said severed portion, :and slitting the turns of said yarn wound about said supporting member to provide a pompon.

2. Method of claim 1 wherein said yarn is wound on said supporting member so that the resulting turns of yarn form a fan-shaped array.

3. A one-piece tool for making pompous comprising an elongate body portion having opposite side surfaces, a convex top surface curved lengthwise thereof, and a bottom surface; first means at one end of said body portion for anchoring a length of yarn; second means located at the other end of said body portion providing a hook around which said length of yarn can be hitched; a plurality of grooves in said side surfaces for preventing slippage along said top surface of successive turns of said yarn Wound about said side surfaces and said top and bottom surfaces; and third means common to said bottom surface for holding said turns of yarn in closer spacing at said bottom surface than at said top surface.

4. A tool as defined by claim 3 wherein said third means is a recess formed at the bottom side of said body portion.

5. A tool as defined by claim 3 wherein said top surface is provided with a longitudinally-extending groove to facilitate slitting of said turns of the yarn.

6. A one-piece tool as defined by claim 5 wherein said first means is a notch and further wherein said longitudinally-extending groove extends to said notch.

7. A one-piece tool for making pompous comprising an elongate body portion with an integnal handle portion at one end thereof and a notch at the opposite end thereof for anchoring a length of yam; said body portion having opposite side surfaces, a substantially convex top surface, and a bottom surface defining a recess; means at said one end of said body portion providing a hook around which yarn can be hitched; and means for preventing slippage along said top surface of turns of yarn wound about said side surfaces and said top and bottom surfaces with each turn disposed in said recess.

8. A tool as defined by claim 7 wherein said top surface is provided with a longitudinally-extending groove to facilitate slitting of said turns of yarn.

9. A tool as defined by claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises serrations in at least one edge of said top surface.

10. A tool as defined by claim 7 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises grooves in said side surfaces, at least some of said grooves oriented so as to converge toward said recess.

11. A tool as defined by elaim 7 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises grooves in at least one of said side surfaces that extend to said top surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,317,914 4/1943 McIntyre 282 3,110,077 11/1963 Spear 28-2 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD W. PAR-KER, Examiner.

L K. RIMRODT, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A ONE-PIECE TOOL FOR MAKING POMPONS COMPRISING AN ELONGATE BODY PORTION HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACES, A CONVEX TOP SURFACE CURVED LENGTHWISE THEREOF, AND A BOTTOM SURFACE; FIRST MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID BODY PORTION FOR ANCHORING A LENGHT OF YARN; SECOND MEANS LOCATED AT ONE OTHER END OF SAID BODY PORTION PROVIDING A HOOK AROUND WHICH SAID LENGTH OF YARN CAN BE HITCHED; A PLURALITY OF GROOVES IN SAID SIDE SURFACES FOR PREVENTING SLIPPAGE ALONG SAID TOP SURFACE OF SUCCESSIVE TURNS OF SAID YARN WOUND ABOUT SAID SIDE SURFACES AND SAID TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACES; AND THIRD MEANS COMMON TO SAID BOTTOM SURFACE FOR HOLDING SAID TURNS OF YARN IN CLOSER SPACING AT SAID BOTTOM SURFACE THAN AT SAID TOP SURFACE. 